Well, I'm using the ESRB (North American) rating system, y'know, the one that really matters.
The farthest any publisher will go is an M rating.
Games with an
M rating are intended for players
aged 17 and older. They often contain
intense or realistic depictions of violence, strong language, and mature themes that are
not suitable for children or early teens.
- Violence: Intense combat, blood and gore, realistic injuries, dismemberment, or death scenes.
(Example: realistic military shooters or action titles)
- Language: Frequent use of strong profanity (e.g., F-words), as well as racial or sexual slurs in some cases.
- Sexual Content: Suggestive themes or partial nudity — but not explicit sexual acts.
- Substance Use: Depictions or references to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco use.
- Themes: May include crime, moral ambiguity, dark psychological elements, or complex adult narratives.
- Call of Duty (violence, strong language)
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (sexual themes, alcohol use)
- Grand Theft Auto V (intense violence, sexual content, drugs)
- Resident Evil 4 Remake (graphic violence, gore)
- Sold freely to adults.
- Retailers (like GameStop, Walmart, etc.) often check ID and refuse sales to minors under 17.
- Accepted by all major console and digital storefronts (PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, etc.).
Where it can be distributed is the most important for publishers.
However, the reason an AO rating is dreaded and has every incentive for a publisher to make certain their games aren't given the rating is:
Games rated
AO are restricted to
adults (18+) due to
explicit content that goes beyond what is acceptable for M-rated titles. These games are
very rare and
often not sold in mainstream retail or console platforms.
- Sexual Content: Explicit, graphic sexual acts, full nudity, or pornographic scenes.
- Extreme Violence: Sadistic or realistic depictions of torture, mutilation, or sexual violence.
- Gambling: Real-money gambling simulations.
- Other Mature Themes: May include extreme drug use or criminal acts with no moral framing.
- Manhunt 2 (original version, for extreme violence — later censored to earn an M rating)
- Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude (Uncut) (sexual content)
- Hatred (mass violence and gore)
- Playboy: The Mansion – Private Party (sexual content)
- Almost never sold in stores — major retailers won't stock AO games.
- Console manufacturers (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) generally ban AO titles from their platforms.
- AO games are typically available only on PC and via direct download from developers or niche distributors.
- ESRB assigns AO sparingly; fewer than 1% of all rated games ever receive this rating.